ST. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM PARENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 ST. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM PARENT HANDBOOK KINDERGARTAN (optional) LEVELS 1 6 Tuesday OR Thursday Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday OR Thursday 4:30 5:30pm 4:30 5:30 pm LEVELS 7 & 8 CONFIRMATION PREPARATION Wednesday OR Thursday 7:00 8:30 pm - Holy Family Chapel

2 St. Barnabas the Apostle, Religious Education Office 2320 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, NY Phone: Fax: Parish website: stbarnabasny.org Reverend Adrian McHugh, Pastor Reverend Charles Omotu, Associate Pastor Reverend Kevin Gruber, Associate Pastor Mrs. Marjorie Lampert, Catechetical Leader Mr.. Kieran Maelia, Confirmation Preparation, Youth Ministry Ms. Susan DeLuca, Adminstrative Assistant Office Hours: when classes in session Monday Thursday 9:00am to 12:30pm & 3:45pm then in school until 5:45pm. Fridays 9:00am 5:00pm When classes are NOT in session: Monday- Friday 9:00am 5:00pm. Sunday Worship is integral to our identity as Catholic Christians. We believe it is vital to your child s faith formation to worship every Sunday. Our Mass Schedule: Saturdays: 4:30pm and 7:00pm Sundays: 7:00am, 9:00am, 10:15am (Family Mass in Holy Family Chapel), 10:30am, 12noon and 5:00pm. Weekday Mass Schedule: Monday to Friday 6:30am and 9:00am - Saturday 8:00am. Holidays as published Rectory Phone:

3 Parents are first and foremost catechists of their children. They catechize informally but powerfully by example and instruction. They communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and His Church and for each other, by reverently receiving the Eucharist and living its spirit, and by fostering justice and love in all their relationships. Their active involvement in the parish, their readiness to seek opportunities to serve others, and their practice of frequent and spontaneous prayer, all make meaningful their professions of belief. Parents nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of lived faith. Sharing the Light of Faith, National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States Mission of our Program As a community of faith, rich in tradition and diverse in our giftedness, we commit ourselves and our resources to the Faith Formation of our young people. Acknowledging the parents as the primary teachers of the faith for their children, we strive to provide a program that will both support and enhance the faith formation being lived in the home. We do this by: Affirming that each student is a child of God, loved and entitled to be treated with kindness and respect. Providing our students with a curriculum deeply rooted and rich in the fundamental teachings of the Church. Exposing our students and their families to good and varied liturgical experiences. Sensitizing our students to the needs and concerns of the poor and oppressed. Providing service opportunities that will promote the realization that true joy can be found only in the service and care of others. 3

4 Enrollment for St. Barnabas Religious Education Program 1. All families must be registered parishioners of St. Barnabas the Apostle Parish before you can register your child(ren) in the religious education program. Religious Education Registration forms are available online and can be accessed through the parish web site at once in the parish website click on Religious Education Website in the left hand menu bar to be directed to the Religious Education website where you will see Registration Material After printing forms and completing them you can either mail or bring them in to the Religious Education office located in the back of the Convent building. Please note payment is expected at time of registration. We accept cash, check or credit card. If paying by credit card you must come in person to swipe your card. 2. For grade one students, a copy of the child s Baptismal certificate MUST be submitted with the registration form. 3. If you are transferring from another parish you are responsible to provide a letter from the previous parish stating previous formation and sacramental information including a copy of the Baptismal certificate and First Holy Communion information if child has received Communion. Children must satisfactorily complete each grade level. 4. Each grade is considered a pre-requisite for the next grade. Children should be registered in first grade (level 1) and continue each year until the celebration of Confirmation. 5. All children who have not received prior instructions or did not attended religious education classes last year will be evaluated on an individual basis by the director to determine the appropriate level at which they should begin religious education classes here at St. Barnabas. Such placement may require that the parent (s) and child(ren) be involved in some form of faith formation before beginning of the religious education year. You are strongly encouraged to register early! Are classes are filled on a first-come, first placed basis. We are limited on the amount of classes we offer each day for each grade level, that is why we ask for your first and second choice of days Once a class or day is filled we will place your child on your second choice. Students cannot be registered after September 1,

5 Registration Fees Tuition and sacramental fees are due at the time of registration. If this presents a financial hardship, please speak with the Director. Tuition and sacramental fees: One Child $ *First Communion Fee: $75.00 per child Family (two or more) $ **Confirmation Fee: $ per child *Communion fee is due for all Level 2 students or those receiving Communion for this first time this year. **Confirmation fee is due for all Level 8 students receiving Confirmation this year. Children with Special Needs Every reasonable effort will be made to assist parents in providing the best possible experience for their child. Please speak to the Director if your child has any special needs so we can provide the best possible learning environment for them. Attendance and Lateness Children are expected to attend their scheduled classes. Lateness and irregular attendance interfere greatly with a child s progress and is disruptive to both the catechist and the rest of the class. Please make sure you allow yourself time to get your child to class on time. If your child will be absent, please call (516) to report the absence. Children are expected to keep up with the work that was scheduled and complete the homework prior to returning to class the following week. If a child is consistently late, the parent will be contacted. We allow a maximum of 3 absences. If your child is late three (3) or more times, this will count as one (1) absence. Excessive absenteeism and incomplete lessons can impede your child s formation process and progress. Any student arriving late MUST sign in and get a Late Pass at the Attendance Desk in the Lobby before going to class. 5

6 Students are expected to attend the entire class! Missing class or leaving early for extra curricular activities is not an excuse. Please arrange your child s schedule (all doctor s appointments, practices and lessons) so that they will not be late for class or leave early. If you are having difficulty attending classes on time we will assist you in finding a religious education program at another parish. Arrival and Dismissl Please be reminded that parents and student are ONLY permitted to enter or exit using the main lobby doors facing the school parking lot. DO NOT enter or exit the building using any other door, this is a major safety issue. Arrival: The doors will be open 15 minutes before the start of class rain or shine. If you are more than 5 minutes late you must sign in at the Attendance desk in the lobby and receive a Late Pass before heading to class. All student in Levels Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th are to have their parent/guardian walk them to class and pick them up at class at 5:30pm. Students in Level 5th and 6th can walk to class on their own and will be dismissed to the lobby where they are to meet their parent/guardian. NO All students and parents must remain in the lobby until the catechist is present before going to class. NO One may go to their classroom until the catechist is present. Dismissal: Dismissal for Levels K through 4: Students must be picked up from their classroom at dismissal. Dismissal for Level 5 & 6: Student will be dismissed to the main lobby where they MUST be met by an adult. Dismissal for Level 7 & 8 Classes are held in the Holy Family Chapel. Student must be picked up inside Holy Family Chapel. NO CHILD MAY LEAVE THE BUILING UNESCORTED BY AN ADULT. 6

7 Safety We make every effort to keep your child(ren) safe when they are in the building for Religious Education; it is imperative that you give us your cooperation in order for us to maintain a high standard of safety. During the afternoon class times, the doors to the school will be kept locked for safety. The doors will open at 5:30pm rain or shine, to allow parents to enter to retrieve their child(ren). Anyone wanting to stay in the building during class time MUST VOLUNTEER. Custody Issues and Orders of Protection Where there is an order of protection in effect, a copy or such must be submitted to the Office along with a photo of the party identified in the Order. The parent or guardian must provide a list of names of those persons allowed to pick up the child. This list must bear a notarized signature of the parent of guardian. Any authorized adult picking up the child must present photo I.D. to the Catechist. If the person referred to by the Order of Protection is seen, the police will be called immediately. Medical Conditions For the safety of your child, parents are requested to notify the Catechetical Leader of any special medical conditions, allergies, asthma, auditory or visual impairment, seizures, etc No medication of any kind may be given to a student by a catechist, volunteer or parish employee. EPI Pen If your child requires the use of an EPI Pen in an emergency, please contact the office so you can complete a Food Allergy Action Plan prior to the first day of class. A photo of the child must be attached to the Food Allergy Action Plan. Emergency Procedures and Fire Drills In the event of an emergency evacuation of the school, students will be escorted to the Church by the catechists. Parents will be contacted and instructed to meet their child(ren) in the Church. For the safety of all there will be a mandatory fire drill once a year. Emergency exit plans are posted in every classroom and each catechist was made aware of the nearest exit to their classroom. 7

8 Home Schooling There is no home schooling permitted unless due to a health condition, your child is presently being tutored at home by the school district and is unable to attend class in a communal setting. If for any reason we cannot accommodate your family scheduling needs, we will assist you in contacting one of our neighboring parishes to find a suitable Religious Education Program for your children. Books and Supplies Students must come prepared to class. Students should bring their religion book, a pencil or pen, to class every week. Students in Levels 6, 7 & 8 may also be required to bring their Bible, which they will receive in 6th grade. If a book or Bible is lost during the year, it will be necessary for you to purchase a new one for your child. If a child comes to class without their book the parent may be called to bring the book to class so the child can participate. Homework Homework is part of the faith formation process. Students are expected to complete the homework that is assigned and for levels K through 6 are listed on the grade level calendars. It is extremely important for parents to discuss with their child(ren) what they have learned in class. In order to satisfactorily complete the year, all assigned lessons and homeworks must be completed. Students books will be checked periodically. Assessments Throughout the year, all levels are assessed both informally and formally. These may include verbal and written reviews as well as optional alternative assessments. Progress Reports Progress reports will be completed and sent home for Levels 1, 3, 4 5 and 6 both at mid-year and on the last class. Please feel free to call to schedule an appointment to discuss your child s progress. 8

9 Photographs Throughout the year photographs of the children in our religious education program may be taken during various activities. These photos may be used for promoting the Religious Education program of the parish. St. Barnabas the Apostle Parish reserves the right to take and use pictures of the children enrolled in Religious Education classes. If parents request that their child not be photographed during class time, a written letter refusing consent must be received by the Religious Education Office by September 1st. Driving and Parking on Parish Property Please exercise caution, as well as civility, when driving onto parish property. There are many children coming in and out of the building. We ask that you have patience when waiting to park your car to walk your child into the building. Please also use the Parish parking lot across the street from the Church. Bathroom Please encourage your child to us the bathroom before arriving for class. If your child has a physical condition that necessitates going to the bathroom frequently, please notify the Catechetical Leader who will inform your child s catechist that your child has permission to leave the room as needed. If a child requests to use the bathroom frequently the parent will be notified. Snacks ABSOLUTELY NO food, drinks, snacks, candy or gum-chewing is allowed in the building during Religious Education classes. This is a Diocesan policy, No Exceptions. Students who come directly from school should have their snack before entering the building. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine s Day, Easter or Birthday goodie bags ARE NOT ALLOWED to be brought in or distributed in class to any student for any occasion. 9

10 Cell phones and other Electronic Devices Cell phones must be TURNED OFF before entering the class room. If a student is found using a cell phone, including texting, the catechist will confiscate the cell phone and it will need to be picked up by the student s parent from the catechist. PARENTS please do not text or call your child during class times. NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM. Conduct and Discipline We are all challenged by the words and example of Jesus to treat one another with respect and dignity. Rules for behavior are necessary in order to provide a safe environment. We are all expected to exercise self-control and conduct ourselves properly at all times. Students are expected to respect the property of the school, the classroom reserved for their use, and the teacher and student materials within the classroom. In addition to these most basic expectations, the following discipline policy shall be followed by our students: 1. We expect courtesy and respect from out students at all times. That respect should always be shown to the catechists, parish priests, and staff members of our program. In addition, students are expected to treat their fellow classmates with compassion and respect well. We will take any accusation of bullying seriously. Parents should contact the director immediately if they feel that their child is in a situation where they have or may become a victim of bullying. 2. Students are expected to display a Christian attitude in the way they dress, speak, and behave. That attitude extends to all aspects of their lives and encounters with others. 3. Students must avoid any behavior that is disruptive to the learning environment. 4. Student are not permitted to have any hazardous items/material in their possession while at church or class. 5. Hats must be removed upon entering the school building or church. 10

11 The Catechetical Leader shall use reasonable judgment in responding to student misconduct and accusations. The first instance of student misconduct may warrant a verbal warning unless the action is serious enough to require parental involvement. If the Catechetical Leader feels that the misconduct is serious, the student will be removed from the class and the parent will be called immediately to pick up their child. The Catechetical Leader and the Pastor may determine that it is necessary to remove a student from the program entirely. Vandalism Any student vandalizing anywhere in the school or parish property will be responsible for the repair, damages or replacement of the item damaged. This includes, but not limited to, writing on or in any student books or desk, ripping, tearing or writing on the student name tags on the desks. Appropriate clothing must be worn at all times. Dress Code No clothing may be worn with suggestive or questionable language or graphics. No bare midriffs or an shirt or top that exposes cleavage. No clothing which allows undergarments to be seen. No basketball jerseys or see-through mesh shirst unless a t-shirt is worn underneath. No sagging pants that expose undergarments. No pajamas, bedroom slippers or shower shoes. Hoods or hats may NOT be worn inside the church or school. No short-shorts. If a student is coming from or going to a sporting event they MUST bring something to cover up before entering the building. 11

12 Substance Abuse Substance abuse is defined as the possession of, use of, selling or distributing any unauthorized, illegal drug, chemical, alcohol, or tobacco-like substance, which can be introduced into the body through ingestion, inhalation or injection. Any student found in possession of any illegal or unauthorized substance on parish property or at a parish-sponsored event will be immediately suspended from the program. A conference with the student, parent, Catechetical Leader and Pastor is mandatory for re-admittance into the program. Any student selling or distributing an illegal or unauthorized substance will be turned over to the local authorities. Communication We encourage parents to communicate with the Religious Education office as well as their child s catechist. We will use s, the Parish Sunday bulletin, the Religious Education website, the parish FaceBook to communicate with you. It is your responsibility to read and follow the Religious Education Calendar that will be handed out with your child s class placement letter and it will be on the Religious Education website. If there is any change to the dates set forth in the original calendar for the year they will be communicated to you. It is imperative that you notify the Religious Education office if you change your address, phone numbers and address so we can contact you if necessary. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the Religious Education Office. We have asked that you provide your cell phone numbers and your cell phone provider as we are looking into the possibility of being able to text information. Program Closings/Cancellations If the program is cancelled due to inclement weather, it will be announced on Optimum Channel 12 ( Verizon FIOS 1 ( If Bellmore School District is closed for inclement weather, the Religious Education classes will also be cancelled. Please DO NOT call the Rectory. Visitors No unauthorized person will be allowed in the building. If you would like to arrange a classroom visit during class time, please contact the Catechetical Leader to schedule prior to class time. 12

13 We need your assistance! The Religious Education Program cannot function without the generous support of its volunteers, including catechists, substitute catechists, hall monitors, attendance and office assistances. The Diocese of Rockville Centre mandates a program of safe-environment and abuse awareness training to ensure protection for children in parish sponsored activities. Volunteers in parish programs must attend a Virtus live training session for which you must register online in advance at You must also complete and submit a packet of forms, available in the Religious Education Office as well as the Rectory, which includes a background check and a code of conduct. Virtus training conducted at the parish will be announced periodically in our bulletin and on the Virtus web site. Right to Amend St. Barnabas Religious Education Program reserves the right to amend the Parent Handbook for just cause. Parents will be notified in writing if changes are made. 13